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  • Who We Are
    • Our Story
    • People of MDF
    • Board of Directors
    • MDF News
    • MDF Magazine
    • Annual Reporting
    • MDF Careers
    • Contact Us
  • How We Conserve
    • Conservation Programs
    • Habitat Work
    • Project Highlights
    • Stewardship
    • Migration Initiative
    • Public Policy
    • Partner Agencies & NGOs
  • How We Educate
    • Outreach
    • Mule Deer and Black-tailed Deer Facts
    • Talking Mule Deer Podcast
    • Mule Deer Foundation Videos & Films
    • Chronic Wasting Disease
  • How You Can Help
    • Join/Renew Membership
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    • Miles Moretti Memorial Fund
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Conservation takes many forms and MDF Magazine is critical to sharing the work that we do.

 

 

MDF Magazine is a quarterly publication, and exclusive to Mule Deer Foundation members. Packed full of high quality stories and striking photography of the work that we are doing on the ground, in a perfect bound, glossy top-scale paper perfect for reading in the wall tent, or the waiting room. We are excited to celebrate the content between the covers, with an aesthetically pleasing and easily readable layout.

 

MDF Magazine continues to deliver stories from the hunt, as well as in the field highlighting conservation challenges and projects. Cuisine, state-by-state updates on the work happening across the range, mule deer and black-tailed deer biology and more!


 

 

The magazine features some of the best hunting stories, tips, and tactics from our friends Jana Waller of Skullbound Chronicles, Mark Kayser, Jason Matzinger, Identical Draw and more!

Celebration of the success of our members, is a fan favorites section, and is featured in each and every issue! This is our favorite section to put together, as we get to share in your stories.


With an increased page count and reduction in ads, MDF Members can enjoy a magazine that delivers the MDF mission, facilitates our mission, and showcases those supporters committed to what we do.

 

A friend of mine and I are considering a Canadian mule deer hunt in 2026. Maybe 2027. While in the planning process I thought I would do some research on what the Canadian mule deer population looks like and what steps are being taken to improve it. By the time I was done I had the makings of a nice little blog post that I thought some of you may be interested in so please if you are considering a cross-border mule deer hunt anytime in the near future keep reading. If hunting mule deer in Canada has never crossed her mind please used anyway because knowledge is power.
A Cross-Border Challenge: Canada’s Mule Deer

A friend of mine and I are considering a Canadian mule deer hunt in 2026. Maybe 2027. While in the planning process I thought I would do some research on what the Canadian mule deer population looks like and what steps are being taken to improve it. By the time I was done I had the makings of a nice little blog post that I thought some of you may be interested in so please if you are considering a cross-border mule deer hunt anytime in the near future keep reading. If hunting mule deer in Canada has never crossed her mind please used anyway because knowledge is power.

Mule deer are far more than a symbol of the American West, they are a cornerstone of rural economies, a source of cultural identity, and a driver of outdoor recreation that keeps communities vibrant. Whether it’s non-resident hunters fueling small-town businesses in November or families pulling off scenic highways to photograph bucks in velvet, the presence of mule deer creates ripple effects that reach far beyond the sagebrush.
The Economic & Cultural Value of Mule Deer

Mule deer are far more than a symbol of the American West, they are a cornerstone of rural economies, a source of cultural identity, and a driver of outdoor recreation that keeps communities vibrant. Whether it’s non-resident hunters fueling small-town businesses in November or families pulling off scenic highways to photograph bucks in velvet, the presence of mule deer creates ripple effects that reach far beyond the sagebrush.

Late-season mule deer hunting offers a unique blend of challenge and opportunity. As November fades into December and winter settles over the West, hunters face both the beauty and the brutality of cold-weather conditions. Snow, wind, and freezing temperatures make access difficult, but they also reveal the habits and patterns of mule deer in ways that earlier seasons cannot. Understanding the dual role of weather is key to a successful late-season hunt.
Late-Season Mule Deer Hunts: Weather as Ally and an Enemy

Late-season mule deer hunting offers a unique blend of challenge and opportunity. As November fades into December and winter settles over the West, hunters face both the beauty and the brutality of cold-weather conditions. Snow, wind, and freezing temperatures make access difficult, but they also reveal the habits and patterns of mule deer in ways that earlier seasons cannot. Understanding the dual role of weather is key to a successful late-season hunt.

The winter of 2022–23 will be remembered across the West as one of the harshest in recent memory. In Wyoming, Idaho, and parts of northern Utah, relentless snow and bitter cold combined to create a perfect storm of survival challenges for mule deer. Tens of thousands of deer perished, including entire fawn crops and mature bucks that entered the season in good shape but simply couldn’t endure months of deep snow and subzero temperatures.
Lessons from the Winter of 2022–23: Rebuilding Mule Deer Herds After Catastrophe

The winter of 2022–23 will be remembered across the West as one of the harshest in recent memory. In Wyoming, Idaho, and parts of northern Utah, relentless snow and bitter cold combined to create a perfect storm of survival challenges for mule deer. Tens of thousands of deer perished, including entire fawn crops and mature bucks that entered the season in good shape but simply couldn’t endure months of deep snow and subzero temperatures.

There’s a special kind of pride in tagging a mule deer on your own. No guide, no outfitter, just a hunter and the grit to get it done. Across the West, do-it-yourself (DIY) mule deer hunting has become a defining experience for many who want to earn their success the hard way. Public land offers the opportunity; preparation and perseverance provide the result.
Public Land, Private Grit: Harvesting a Mule Deer Without a Guide

There’s a special kind of pride in tagging a mule deer on your own. No guide, no outfitter, just a hunter and the grit to get it done. Across the West, do-it-yourself (DIY) mule deer hunting has become a defining experience for many who want to earn their success the hard way. Public land offers the opportunity; preparation and perseverance provide the result.

Keeping your rifle clean not only protects your investment and extends its life, but most importantly, gives you confidence that it will perform when you’ve finally got your crosshairs settled.
Rifle Cleaning Matters in Mule Deer Country

Keeping your rifle clean not only protects your investment and extends its life, but most importantly, gives you confidence that it will perform when you’ve finally got your crosshairs settled.

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These are just a few stories from previous issues, but you must be a member to receive the full contents of this powerful publication!

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Mule Deer Foundation

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The mission of the Mule Deer Foundation is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. #ConnectedByConservation

Here's to you and the deer we all care about. May Here's to you and the deer we all care about. May your holidays be filled with warmth, laughter, and the simple joy of being surrounded by family and the outdoors. Wishing everyone a safe and Merry Christmas and holiday season.
Our dual membership option is now live! Give the g Our dual membership option is now live! Give the gift of conservation and support the wild twice over. Renew your MDF membership + join BDF (or vice versa) and get $10 off! An easy last minute gift that makes a big difference.
Link below & in bio! 
https://bit.ly/4ir6Efm
Here's an example of how we use corporate donation Here's an example of how we use corporate donations and membership dues. @weatherbyinc came by our @huntexpos podcast and discussed one of the reasons they give to conservation groups like Mule Deer Foundation - catch the full interview on our YouTube page. Link in bio!
MDF and @copubliclands have completed a 10-year ag MDF and @copubliclands have completed a 10-year agreement that restored thousands of acres of forest and sagebrush ecosystems across Northwest Colorado. Known as the "Mule Deer Factory," this part of Colorado has experienced severe winters and habitat loss that mule deer populations have yet to recover from. We're providing a catalyst to this recovery by bringing back critical habitat for mule deer while also reducing the risk of severe wildfire to overgrown ecosystems. Read more from the following link: https://bit.ly/4pYPYP3 or link in our bio!
What started as research for a hunt in Canada, tur What started as research for a hunt in Canada, turned into a informative blog post about the state of mule deer across the border. Read the full story in our latest blog post - link in bio. Anyone hunt muleys in Canada before? 

#muledeerfoundation #conservationthroughhunting #wildlife #canada
TOUGH BUCK at Western Hunt Expo. Feb 14, 2026 • TOUGH BUCK at Western Hunt Expo. Feb 14, 2026
•
We're excited to partner with @mtntough_fitness to introduce TOUGH BUCK at the Western Hunt Expo 2026. This is your chance to test your grit and earn a shot at a once-in-a-lifetime mule deer hunt!
•
ON TOP OF THAT, everyone that enters gets a FREE MTNTOUGH+ Membership, @onxhunt Premium membership, and Mule Deer Foundation annual membership. With only 510 spots available, these are the best odds you’ll find anywhere for a tag of this caliber.
•
Best of all, every entry supports the Mule Deer Foundation’s mission to preserve mule deer populations and ensure the tradition of hunting thrives for generations to come.
•
Get signed up today before we sell out!
Link in bio!
•
#conservationthroughhunting 
#bemtntough
#alwaysready
#toughbuck2026
An estimated 1 to 2 million wildlife-vehicle colli An estimated 1 to 2 million wildlife-vehicle collisions happen every year in the U.S., which is why wildlife crossings and corridors are so critical, not just for the animals that use them, but for the people who drive those roads.

Effective wildlife crossings is a key part of our conservation framework, as it means healthier herds, and has a positive domino effect for every species that depends on the landscapes we all share.

#WildlifeConservation #WildlifeCorridors #SafePassage
With mule deer populations struggling, we often wo With mule deer populations struggling, we often wonder what the ramifications would be if they were to vanish. Beyond how hunting, wildlife watching, and the rural communities who sustain these activities would be affected, but the economic and cultural impacts on larger scale? In todays blog post, we go deep to explore this topic. Article linked in bio!

What did we miss? What other consequences do you think would occur if this western icon were to vanish? Let us know in the comments!
All the gear you need for your next hunt! We've pa All the gear you need for your next hunt! We've partnered with some incredible brands to bring you the The Deer Hunt Giveaway! No purchase necessary, simply go to the link below to view full prize list and enter! We'll draw the winner 12/31!
@Weatherbyinc stopped by our podcast booth at @hun @Weatherbyinc stopped by our podcast booth at @huntexpo 2025 to discussed a big issue (and one all hunters should care about): the shortage of public land in the South and East, and the critical role conservation groups play in keeping the West open and accessible. Catch the full conversation on our YouTube channel - link in Bio!

#conservation #conservationthroughhunting #wildlife #whce #weatherby
Check out our December to Remember Sweepstakes! Jo Check out our December to Remember Sweepstakes! Join MDF this December or donate and be entered to win The New Hoyt RX10 ULTRA Bow + a Custom MKC Knife! Only 250 entries, so act now before all entries are gone. Link in bio to enter.
Today marks the first birthday of our sister org, Today marks the first birthday of our sister org, the Blacktail Deer Foundation and it's dedication to conserving black-tailed deer and the habitats they call home. 

To celebrate, we’re launching our One-Year Anniversary Sweepstakes!
Here’s how to enter:
✅ Join or renew your BDF membership and get your own referral code! 
✅ Every person who joins with your code earns you an extra sweepstakes entry- no limits. 
Invite your friends, family, and fellow blacktail hunters and rack up those entries!
Full details are in the link below and in our bio!
https://go.muledeerfoundationfundraising.org/bdf-anniversary
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Upcoming Events

Jan 8
5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Ft Pierre, SD- Missouri Breaks Muleys Chapter Banquet

Jan 31
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Bar Nunn, WY- Casper Chapter Banquet

Jan 31
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Butte, MT- Treasure State Chapter Banquet

Jan 31
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Casper, WY – Mule Deer Foundation Banquet – Central Wyoming Chapter

Feb 7
5:00 am - 10:00 pm

Gillette, WY – Thunder Basin Chapter Banquet

View Calendar

The mission of the Mule Deer Foundation is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat.

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Contact Information

MDF National Headquarters
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Suite 210
Clearfield UT 84015

Open weekdays from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m

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Email: [email protected]

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Mule Deer Foundation
  • Who We Are
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    • Annual Reporting
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    • Contact Us
  • How We Conserve
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    • Public Policy
    • Partner Agencies & NGOs
  • How We Educate
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    • Talking Mule Deer Podcast
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